Apparatus for integrating time and temperature



y 1943- E. J. STODDARD ET AL 2,320,310

APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATING TIME AND TEMPERATURE Filed Aug. 30, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 25, 1943 APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATING TIME ANDTEMPERATURE Elliott J. Stoddard, Highland Park, Micla, and

Joseph W.

Myers, Philadelphia, Pa.; said Stoddard assignor to said MyersApplication August 30, 1938, Serial No. 227,542 7 Claims. (Cl. 73-339)Our invention relates toan apparatus for integrating time andtemperature and an object is to measure and indicate the temperaturethat has obtained during a determined period of time.

We secure this object by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation, the front of the casing being removed. Theapparatus back of the line II-II, Figure 3, is not shown inthis view;

Figure 3 is a section substantially in the plane indicated by the lineIII-III, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail section in the plane indicated by the line IV--IV,Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective illustrating a detail; Figure 6 is a sectionon the line VI-VI, Figure Figure 7 is an escapement that may be used insaid apparatus; I

, Figure 8 is a second form of escapement; and

Figure 9 is a pendulum that may be used.

The drawings are somewhat diagrammatic especially in that some partswhich are conventional and well known, such as journals, are omittedfrom the drawings for the sake of clearness.

i, Figure 1, is a casing having the observation openings 2, 3, I, 5 and5 through the face thereof. 1, is a pivoted arm which may be turned tocover the opening 2 or 3 as desired. The opening 2 is distinguished bythe word Minus; 3 by the word Plus; 4 by Elapsed days hrs.; and 5 and 6by the legend True average yesterday" to indicate the significance ofthe figures that appear through them. 2 and 3 are further described bythe legend Accumulated degree-day units for referring to elapsed daysand hours.

S (Figure 3) indicates a standard clockwork keeping the correct time,and T a clockwork in which a regulating member, for instance, thebalance or pendulum, is made'sensitive to heat so that it will cause theclockwork of which it forms a part to vary its rate of movement to aconvenient predetermined extent as a function of the temperature.

8 is a shaft of the clockwork S, turning one revolution in twelve hours,and 9 is a corresponding shaft of the clockwork T, arranged axially inline with the shaft 8 and turning in the opposite r direction at a ratethat varies from that of the shaft 8 as the temperature varies from adatum point which may be taken as zero degrees Fahrenheit, that is tosay, the shafts 8 and 9 turn at the same rate at 0 degrees F. but inopposite directions. Means of securing said variation will behereinafter describedin connection with Figures 7, 8 and 9.

I0 is a differential mechanism between the shafts 8 and 9. II is apinion keyed upon the axial with the shaft 3 of the clockwork I.

the pinion ii and the casing of the differential i0.

ment.

i1 (Figure 2) is a second mechanical counter located above the counterl4, and I8 and is are gear wheels connecting the shafts I6 01 saidcounters so that they shall turn at the same rate but in oppositedirections.

The numbers of the counter the opening 2 (Figure 1) in casing I.

In Figures 7 and 8 conventional escapement mechanisms are illustrated,but the rim of the balance is of thermostatic material arranged toincrease or decrease the radius of gyration and therefore the rate ofmovement of the clockwork T from that indicating the correct time as thetemperature varies from a datum point which may be taken as zero degreesFahrenheit.

In Figure 9, a hollow pendulum 20 is shown having a cylindrical tube 2|extending through and above it and opening to the interior of saidpendulum near its lower wall. The axial open ing through said tube isvery small and the suspension rod 22 of the pendulum fits and slidestherein. There is a quantity of mercury in the pendulum 20 covering thelower end of the tube 2|, and the rest of the interior of the pendulumis filled with alcohol.

If the cross-section of the suspension rod is so small that the weightof the pendulum will not be sustained by atmospheric pressure tensionsprings 23 may be interprosed between the pendulum and suspension rod22. The volume of the alcohol will vary with the temperature and thiswill cause the pendulum to slide up or. down on the suspension rod 22.Of course this principle and construction may be used to vary the radiusof gyration in the balance of the escape- The object is to vary therate, or speed, of the clock with the temperature, which may be in adirect proportion.

24 is a mechanical counter, the numbers of which appear through theopening 4 (Figure 1) in the face of the casing i. The counter 24 isactuated by the shaft 8, through a shaft 25 extending at right angles tothe shaft 8 and gear wheels 26, 21 and 28 on said shafts which are soproportioned that the elapsed time will be indicated by the counter 24in days and hours.

I! appear through the face of the The variation of thetemperature-sensitive clock i'rom'the actual time will be due to twofactors: the difference in the rate of movement from the standard clock,which will depend upon the temperature; and, the time such differencehas obtained. Both of these factors are integrated and indicated, as theaggregate difference between the two clockworks for a given period oftime in the above described apparatus and, as the actual lapse of timeis known the other factor may be known, and consequently the averagetemperature during said period.

One half revolution of the differential casing will occur when thetemperature-sensitive clock has gained, or lost, 12 hrs. or 720 minutesreferred to the standard clockwork.

We assume that the temperature-sensitive clockwork is so constructedthat it will vary one minute per day for each degree of temperature,Fahrenheit, above or below zero. This, then, is the degree-day unit.Inasmuch as the shaft of the counter |4 turns 144 times at eachrevolution of the differential casing l9, and the counter is constructedto show ten numbers for each revolution of its shaft, one halfrevolution of the differential casing will cause the counters toindicate720 units plus or minus.

The purpose of having the two counters l4 and I1 is to indicate negativedegree-day units where the temperature has been more below zero thanabove, as, for example, in the arctic region or other cold localities.If the apparatus were started in such a locality with both counters atzero readings, the negative counter would start to accumulate minusdegree-day units while the positive counter would be operating backwardand would show large numbers, for example 99900, at which time the minuscounter would show 100. The true reading is obviously on the counterwith the smallest number; and since the counters read to five places, itis estimated that in any one year the smallest number would always bethe correct reading.

29 and 38 (Figures 2 and 4) are discs upon parallel and spaced shafts.In Figure 2, these are broken away to show the apparatus behind them.Each of these discs is provided with a scale numbered from 50 below zeroto 125 above, representing degree-day units. These discs are so locatedthat the upper figures of their scales come before the openings 5 and 6(Figure 1).

29a and 3011., are rubber friction wheels on the shafts of the discs 29and 30. 29b and 381), are weights secured to the ends of arms extendingradially from the shafts of the discs 29 and 36 respectively, so thatthey shall cause said discs, when free, to turn to the position at whichthe zeros of their scales shall come opposite th openings 5 and 6 in thecasing 3| is a lever arm pivoted upon the shaft I2 at its upper end andnormally extending vertically downward midway between the frictionwheels 29a and 39a. 32 is a friction wheel on a shaft 33 bearing in thelever arm 3|, so that said wheel shall engage the wheel 29a, or thewheel 30a,

according as said lever arm shall swing to the right or left of itscentral position. 34 is a gear wheel on the shaft 33. 35 is a secondgear wheel pivoted upon the lever arm 3| and engaging the gear wheels 34and |5a and the shaft I2. 36 is asnap-over spring adapted to throw thelever arm to the right or left as it passes the center. 31 is a shieldupon the lever arm 3|,adopted to cover one of the openings 5 or 6 at theend of its travel and leave the other uncovered,

39 and 46 are bell crank-levers pivoted upon stationary supports 66;each [lever having a weighted arm extending horizontally outward and anarm extending vertically downward and provided with a brake-shoe 39a or49a adapted to engage the peripheries of the discs 29 and 33. 4| and 42are levers pivoted at the lower ends of the downwardly extending arms ofthe levers 39 and 40, each having an arm extending horizontally inwardand its outer and extending vertically downward. 3|a. is a pin extendinghorizontally outward from the lever arm 3| at its lower end. Each of thehorizontal arms of the levers 4| and 42 is provided with a notch 43 atits lower edge and inner end extending outwardly and forming a shoulderat its outer end. The levers 4| and 42 rest with their horizontal armsupon the pin, 3|w. 44-44 are stationary lugs adapted to be engaged bythe downwardly extending portions of the levers 4| and 42 to turn saidlevers about their pivots 62 and 63.

The lever arm 3| is shifted every 24 hours to cause the friction wheel32 to engage the friction wheel 290. or 30a to rotate the disc 29 or 30,by means of the mechanism shown most distinctly in Figures 2 and 3.

The shaft 25 (Figures 3 and 5) is geared down at its inner end to rotateonce in 48 hours and at its outer end is adapted to rotate the shaft ofthe counter 24 once in twenty-four hours. 45. is a disc keyed upon theshaft 25. 46, is a disc adapted to rotate upon the shaft 25 once inthree hours, and 41 is a similar disc adapted to rotate about said shaftonce in one hour. The gearing to secure this result is shown in Figure3. In Figure 5, 48,48, 48 indicate V-shaped notches, cut in theperipheries of the discs 45, 46 and 41, which come into alinement atpoints degrees apart alternately every twenty-four hours. In Figure 2,49 and 50 are lever arms pivoted at 5|, extending downwardly on oppositesides of the series of discs 45, 46, and 41, each being provided with alug 52 adapted to enter the notches 48, 48, 46, when said notches are inalinement, but excluded therefromwhen any one of said notches is out ofalinement with the others. 53, is a tension spring tending to draw thelower ends of the arms 49 and 50 together. 54, is a shifting rod securedat one end to the swinging arm 3|, and at the other end provided with apin 544; that is located between the lower ends of the arms 49 and 50.For a full and complete description of the construction and operation ofthe notched discs 45, 46 and 41 and their associated and cooperatingmechanisms, attention is directed to the co-pending application ofJoseph W. Myers, Serial No. 427,513 filed January 20, 1942.

The operation of the mechanism just described is, as follows:

In Figure 2 the notches 48 in the discs 45. 46, 41 have come intoalinement at the left of said discs, admitting the lug 52 of the arm 49into said alined notches. The spring 53 has drawn the arm 49 to theright carrying the rod 54 with it and thereby drawing the swinging arm3| with it. As said arm passes its central position the snap-over spring36 acts upon it to press the periphery of the wheel 32 against theperiphery of the friction wheel 29a. The disc 29 will be driven by thegearing I5, 35, 34, 32 and 29a at such a rate that one unit of its scalewill pass in front of the opening 6 as each degree-day unit I isindicated by the counter l4.

The brake-shoes 39a and 48a are pressed against the peripheries of thediscs 29 and 36 by their weighted levers 89 and 40 hard enough toprevent their automatic rotation by the weights 29b and 80b, but nothard enough to prevent the rotating of said discs by the friction wheel82.

The disc 41 turning one revolution per hour,'

will now force the arm 49 outward to the position shown in broken linesin Figure 2, by the camlike action of the side of its notch 48 upon theface of the lug 52, thus tensioning the spring 58, and the discs 45, 46and 41 will hold the arm 49 in this position until the notches againcome into alinement at this place. When, after about twenty-four hours,the notches, 48, 48, 48 begin to come into alinement at the right handside of the series of discs 45, 46 and 41, the lug 52 on the arm 50 willbegin to enter said notches and said arm will be slowly drawn to theleft by the spring 53, thus acting through the rod 54 to swing the arm3| to the left. The pin 3la will engage the shoulder at the outer end ofthe notch 43 of the lever 42 to swing the lever 40 to the left carryingthe brake-shoe 40a away from the periphery of the disc'30 and permittingthe weight 301) to carry said disc back to the position in which thezero of its scale is opposite the opening 5 in the face of the casing Onthe further movement of the lever arm 3 I, the vertical arm of the lever42 contacts a stationary lug 44 which turns said lever about its pivot63 and raises the shoulder of the slot 43 freeing the pin Sid andpermitting the friction wheel 32 to pass into engagement with thefriction wheel 30a, and the brakeshoe 40a to return into engagement withthe periphery of the disc 30.

In the drawings it is assumed that the disc 30 has recorded 50 units forthe previous day, which number is exposed through the opening 5 in theface of the casing i. The shield 31 has uncovered the opening 5 andcovered the opening 6 while the disc 29 is building up its indicationfor the then current day. When the arm 3| is shifted over so that thefriction wheel 32 is pressed against the friction wheel No by the spring36, the shield 31 is removed from before the opening 6, the disc 29 isheld by the brake-shoe 39a, in

the position the friction wheel 32 has left it at the end of theprevious day and the indication for that day is exposed to view throughthe opening 6. Thus, while the indication for one day is being built upits indication is covered and the indication for the previous day isexposed to view.

We claim:

1. The combination of a clockwork having a normal rate, a clockworkadapted to have its rate varied with the temperature, and means actuatedby said clockworks for indicating the difference in the movements ofsaid clockworks said clockworks having the same rate of rotation at acertain datum point of temperature.

2. The combination of a clockwork having a normal rate, a clockworkadapted to have its rate vary with the temperature in a known way, saidclockworks having similar shafts joined by a diiierential having amember adapted to turn in proportion to the difl'erence in the rate ofturning 01' said shafts, and means for indicating the movement of saidmember said clockworks havin the same rate 01' rotation at a certaindatum point of temperature.

3. The combination of a clockwork having a normal rate, a clockworkadapted to have its rate varied with the temperature in a known way,said clockwork having similar shafts joined by a differential having amember adapted to turn in proportion to the difference in the rate ofturning of said shafts and a mechanical counter geared to said membersaid clockworks having the same rate of rotation at a certain datumpoint of temperature.

4. In combination, a first driving means having a constant rate ofmovement, a second driving means having the same rate of movement assaid first driving means at a certain datum point of temperature butvariable in response to variations in temperature and in proportion tosuch variations when the temperature varies from such datum point, adriven means operable by said two driving means in proportion to thediiferential movement of said two driving means, -a totalizingregistering means operated by said driven means, and an elapsed-timeregistering means driven by said first driving'means.

5. In combination, a totalizing registering means, a first clockworkmechanism whose rate of movement varies in response to variations intemperature, a second clockwork whose rate of movement is substantiallyconstant, said clockworks having the same rate of movement at a certaindatum point of temperature, and means responsive to the conjointoperation of said clockworks for actuating said registering means onlywhen the rate of movement of said first clockwork differs from the rateof movement of said second clockwork.

6. In combination, a first driving means having a constant rate ofmovement, a second driving means having the same rate of movement assaid first driving means at a certain datum point of temperature butvariable in response to variations in temperature and in proportion tosuch variations when the temperature varies from such datum point, adriven means operable by said two driving means in proportion to thedifferential movement of said two driving means, and a pair oftotalizing registering devices operable by said driven means in oppositedirections to indicate positive and negative integrated variations ofsaid temperature from said datum point.

7. In combination, a. first driving means having a constant rate ofmovement, a second driving means having the same rate of movement assaid first driving means at a certain datum point of temperature butvariable in response to variations in temperature and in proportion tosuch variations when the temperature varies from such datum point, adriven means operable by said two driving means in proportion to thedifferential movement of said two driving means, a pair of totalizingregistering devices operable by said driven means in opposite directionsto indicate positive and negative integrated units of variation of saidtemperature from said datum point. said devices being constructed andarranged to indicate at a glance the true reading by visual comparisonof their respective readings, and an elapsed-time registering meansdriven by said first means, whereby the average deviation of saidtemperature from said datum point of term perature for any given periodmay readily be determined.

ELLIOTT J. STODDARD. JOSEPH W. MYERS.

